Menaka (1955 film)

1955 Indian film

Menaka

Theatrical release poster

Directed by| V. C. Subburaman
Screenplay by| A. T. Krishnaswamy
Story by| Vaduvur Duraisami Iyengar
Produced by| V. C. Subburaman
Starring| K. R. Ramasamy
Lalitha
Ragini
K. Sarangapani
Cinematography| P. Balasubramaniam
R. R. Chandran
M. S. Mani
Edited by| B. V. M.
Music by| T. G. Lingappa
C. N. Pandurangan
Vedha

Production
company

Kasturi Films

Release date

* 5 January 1955 (1955-1-5)

Running time

| 182 minutes
Country| India
Language| Tamil

Menaka is a 1955 Indian Tamil language film directed by V. C. Subburaman. It is a remake of the 1935 film of the same name, in turn based on the novel of the same name by Vaduvur Duraisami Iyengar. The film stars K. R. Ramasamy and Lalitha.[1] The film was released on 5 January 1955,[2] and emerged a critical and commercial failure.

## Plot

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The story is about a loving couple getting separated by designs of evil doers. However, after many sufferings, they reunite.[3]

## Cast

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List adapted from the database of Film News Anandan[1] and from the Hindu review article.[3]

Male cast

* K. R. Ramasamy
* K. Sarangapani
* T. K. Ramachandran
* D. Balasubramaniam
* Acharya
* Friend Ramasami
* T. N. Sivathanu
* M. S. Karuppaiah
* T. V. Sethuraman
* V. P. Balaraman
* V. P. S. Mani

Female cast

* Lalitha
* Ragini
* C. K. Saraswathi
* M. S. S. Bhagyam
* K. S. Angamuthu
* Indira
* S. K. Venubai
* K. S. Adilakshmi
* K. S. Rajam
* K. S. Chandra

Dance

* Padmini
* Kushalakumari

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## Production

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This is the second edition of the same story by Vaduvur Duraisami Iyengar that he first published as a novel. Then it was staged as a successful play by TKS Brothers. It was made into a film in 1935 with the same title. K. R. Ramasamy who featured in a supporting role in the 1935 film, was the hero in this film.[3]

The film was produced and directed by V. C. Subburaman. Screenplay and dialogues were written by A. T. Krishnaswamy. Cinematography was handled by P. Balasubramaniam, R. R. Chandran and M. S. Mani while the editing was done by B. V. M. V. Ramaraju was in charge of art direction while the choreography was done by V. Madhavan. Still photography was by R. N. Nagaraja Rao.[1]

## Soundtrack

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Music was composed by T. G. Lingappa, C. N. Pandurangan and Vedha while the lyrics were penned by Kannadasan, Ku. Sa. Krishnamoorthy, A. Maruthakasi, K. P. Kamatchisundaram, K. D. Santhanam and S. D. Sundharam.[4]

Song | Singer/s | Length

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"O! Come Come Aiyaa Salaamunga" | P. Leela |
"Aasai Kaaddi Yaengalaagumaa" | Sirkazhi Govindarajan & A. P. Komala | 02:34
"Anna Amudham Nee Eppo" |  |
"Kanavu Ninaivaagumo" | (Radha) Jayalakshmi | 03:10
"Manam Polae Ini Vaazhalaam" | K. R. Ramasamy & (Radha) Jayalakshmi | 02:41
"Sugamaana Isaiyaagum Vaazhve" | Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi | 02:31
"Azhagin Deivam Arivin" | K. R. Ramasamy & Sirkazhi Govindarajan | 03:02
"Allahvin Naamathai" | A. M. Rajah | 02:49
"Karpanai Ulaginilae" | K. R. Ramasamy | 03:19

## Reception

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Menaka was poorly received by critics, and underperformed at the box office.[3]

## References

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1. ^ a b c "1955 – மேனகா-2 – கஸ்தூரி பிலிம்ஸ் (நாடகம்)" [1955 – Menaka-2 – Kasturi Films (play)]. Lakshman Sruthi (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 29 June 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
2. ^ "மேனகா 2 / Menaka 2". Screen 4 Screen. Archived from the original on 12 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
3. ^ a b c d Guy, Randor (4 September 2011). "Menaka 1955". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 29 June 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
4. ^ Neelamegam, G. (2014). Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 1 (in Tamil). Chennai: Manivasagar Publishers. p. 100.

## External links

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* Menaka at IMDb